10/17/2014: Dobie Mountain to Rockfish Gap and back

Stashed a thermos of water at Rockfish Gap and then drove south on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Humpback Rocks parking area. Rather than head up the popular/crowded route to the rocks, I took the Old Howardsville Turnpike trail. This allowed me to quickly hit the Appalachian Trail north, make a brief stop at the Glass Hollow Overlook (the views aren’t quite as big as those at Humpback, but I had the place all to myself), and then finish the almost eight-mile run to Rockfish Gap to re-fill water bottles. Roughly the same route back, except that I took the blue-blazed Albright Loop Trail shortly after passing the Paul C. Wolf Shelter. There’s a bit of old plane wreckage just off the Albright trail. 16 miles total.

On the Old Howardsville Turnpike trail 48 seconds into my run.  I quickly  realized that I wouldn't get anywhere if I stopped for every vista.

On the Old Howardsville Turnpike trail 48 seconds into my run. The leaves sort of stopped me in my tracks when I first got out there, and I had to force myself not to grab for my camera at every vista.

Glass Hollow Overlook.

Glass Hollow Overlook.

Tree.